Post by hoosiercop on Sept 17, 2006 11:26:58 GMT -5
I think this may be the proper place to post this, if not, feel free to move it admin. Now that I think about it, maybe it might be nice to add a section to the board for "In memorium" postings. Many of us have losts friends, family, or co-workers in the line of duty. But I just wanted to copy and paste for you all what I wrote in my blog on my Myspace page today....
Jason Matthew Baker - Marion County Sheriff's Department - E.O.W. 9-17-01
It's so hard to beleive but today is the fifth anniversary of when my friend Jason Baker was killed in the line of duty. Jason was shot and killed at the end of a vehicle pursuit. I'll never forget getting home from work that night and hearing those dreadful messages on my voice mail from a friend of mine that knew I was friends with Jason.
So this morning has been a little rough for me. I got home from work about 7:30, got changed out of uniform, put on the jersey I made in memorium of him, and headed out on the hour drive to Indianapolis. I drove to Crown Hill, where Jason's marker is at in their Heroes of Public Safety section. (the Baker's had Jason cremated, so its not really his gravesite)
I figured that as early in the morning as I was going that no one would be there, but as fate would have it, Jason's dad was there. Also, the parents of Jake Laird, an IPD officer killed in 2004 were there too. They have become close friend with the Bakers. I kind of sat in my truck for a few minutes, trying to gather my composure a little bit. Then I got out and went up to the marker. The times that I have been there before, somehow I always managed to stay relatively cool. But this time it just kind of hit me and I started welling up, sniffling nose, etc. After a couple minutes, I started to stand up, still crying a little.
Jason's dad then came up from behind and put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me. Then we started talking a little bit, kind of sharing each others pain a little. Then we gave each other a hug. Mr. Baker then told me he had to go get the rest of the family. I guess he had wanted some time alone first. He's probably doing the cop thing of getting the emotions out of the way early so he can be strong for the rest of the family later. But as we each started to walk away, I told him that I would say a prayer for his family as I went to bed today. I'm not religious, but sometimes I feel like putting that kind of positive energy out there just might help things out.
Now that I'm back home, in a way I feel a little better that I got some of that emotion out. Like Mr. Baker said, the pain doesnt ever go away, but you kind of learn to get through it. Also, it was nice to be able to connect a little bit with Mr. Baker. In the past I've been kind of intimidated by him, but this was kind of nice. Hopefully I'll run into him out at Police Week next year.
"He Was A Friend Of Mine"
On the way home from Crown Hill, I was listening to this song on CD. It's Willie Nelson's rendition of the song "He Was A Friend Of Mine" from the soundtrack to Brokeback Mountain. The lyrics just kind of fit really well. I felt compelled to write them out on here.........
He... was a friend of mine.
He... was a friend of mine.
Everytime I think of him.....
I just can't keep from crying,
Cause he... was a friend of mine.
He... died on the road.
He... died on the road.
Just kept on moving.
Never reaped what he could sow.
And he... was a friend of mine.
I... stole away and cried.
I... stole away and cried.
Never had much money.
I've never been quite satisfied.
And he... was a friend of mine.
He... never done no wrong.
He... never done no wrong.
A thousand miles from home.
And he never harmed no one.
And he... was a friend of mine.
He... was a friend of mine.
He... was a friend of mine.
Whenver I hear his name, lord...
I just can't keep from crying,
Cause he... was a friend of mine.
Jason Matthew Baker - Marion County Sheriff's Department - E.O.W. 9-17-01
It's so hard to beleive but today is the fifth anniversary of when my friend Jason Baker was killed in the line of duty. Jason was shot and killed at the end of a vehicle pursuit. I'll never forget getting home from work that night and hearing those dreadful messages on my voice mail from a friend of mine that knew I was friends with Jason.
So this morning has been a little rough for me. I got home from work about 7:30, got changed out of uniform, put on the jersey I made in memorium of him, and headed out on the hour drive to Indianapolis. I drove to Crown Hill, where Jason's marker is at in their Heroes of Public Safety section. (the Baker's had Jason cremated, so its not really his gravesite)
I figured that as early in the morning as I was going that no one would be there, but as fate would have it, Jason's dad was there. Also, the parents of Jake Laird, an IPD officer killed in 2004 were there too. They have become close friend with the Bakers. I kind of sat in my truck for a few minutes, trying to gather my composure a little bit. Then I got out and went up to the marker. The times that I have been there before, somehow I always managed to stay relatively cool. But this time it just kind of hit me and I started welling up, sniffling nose, etc. After a couple minutes, I started to stand up, still crying a little.
Jason's dad then came up from behind and put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me. Then we started talking a little bit, kind of sharing each others pain a little. Then we gave each other a hug. Mr. Baker then told me he had to go get the rest of the family. I guess he had wanted some time alone first. He's probably doing the cop thing of getting the emotions out of the way early so he can be strong for the rest of the family later. But as we each started to walk away, I told him that I would say a prayer for his family as I went to bed today. I'm not religious, but sometimes I feel like putting that kind of positive energy out there just might help things out.
Now that I'm back home, in a way I feel a little better that I got some of that emotion out. Like Mr. Baker said, the pain doesnt ever go away, but you kind of learn to get through it. Also, it was nice to be able to connect a little bit with Mr. Baker. In the past I've been kind of intimidated by him, but this was kind of nice. Hopefully I'll run into him out at Police Week next year.
"He Was A Friend Of Mine"
On the way home from Crown Hill, I was listening to this song on CD. It's Willie Nelson's rendition of the song "He Was A Friend Of Mine" from the soundtrack to Brokeback Mountain. The lyrics just kind of fit really well. I felt compelled to write them out on here.........
He... was a friend of mine.
He... was a friend of mine.
Everytime I think of him.....
I just can't keep from crying,
Cause he... was a friend of mine.
He... died on the road.
He... died on the road.
Just kept on moving.
Never reaped what he could sow.
And he... was a friend of mine.
I... stole away and cried.
I... stole away and cried.
Never had much money.
I've never been quite satisfied.
And he... was a friend of mine.
He... never done no wrong.
He... never done no wrong.
A thousand miles from home.
And he never harmed no one.
And he... was a friend of mine.
He... was a friend of mine.
He... was a friend of mine.
Whenver I hear his name, lord...
I just can't keep from crying,
Cause he... was a friend of mine.